Are you ready to cut the cord?

It’s now possible to stop paying the cable bill and enjoy much, if not all, of your favorite programming at great savings. But is cutting the cord right for you? We can't account for every circumstance and hack (e.g., password sharing), but we can help you get started. Answer a few questions to find a cord-cutting package tailored to you. (See related article.)

January 2015

This calculator highlights the most popular and best products as of December 2013.

In 2014, Amazon released the Amazon Fire TV, Amazon and Roku both released lower-priced devices to compete with Google's Chromecast, HBO announced an option to pay for their streaming service, HBO Go, without cable, and CBS released a subscription streaming app.

Cutting the cord will become easier in 2015, but the combined cost of the streaming services may sneak up on some cord cutters. Compare your cable bill to an internet-and-streaming package with Slate's cord cutting calculator.

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What is this?

Cutting the cord limits access to live TV – though local broadcast stations are available with a digital antenna. There are alternative sports and news networks that can be streamed over the Internet, including 24-hour SkyNews. But most live TV is unavailable, including premium channels offered exclusively through cable providers (HBO, Showtime, etc.).

What else should I know?

Digital antennas can be a great way to get broadcast stations – even in HD. But before you buy one, check which channels are available near you. If you're already set up for cable, you may not even need the antenna. Plug the coaxial cable directly into your TV to see what channels you can watch for free.

What is this?

Tell us how much you pay for cable now. To cut the cord, you’ll still have to pay for Internet, so only include the TV portion of of your bill.

What else should I know?

We may save you money with cable, but you'll probably need to upgrade your Internet depending on how many devices could be streaming at once. Streaming websites recommend 1.5 Megabits per second for standard definition video and 3-5 Mbps for high definition.

What is this?

Search to see if your shows are available on Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime Instant Video. Your search may not return results if the show isn't available on any of the three streaming services or if the spelling doesn't match the actual name of the show. If you find a show that you believe is listed incorrectly or should be included, e-mail cordcutter@marketwatch.com.

What else should I know?

You may want to investigate for yourself to see which seasons are available on each service. The search only checks if at least one episode is available on each service. Hulu typically has recent episodes whereas Netflix and Amazon typically feature past seasons. Also, some shows are available for free on Hulu without a HuluPlus subscription.

What is this?

These were the only apps we could find dedicated to streaming an entire sports league without a cable subscription. Streaming of other sports, both professional and college level, may still be available for certain leagues, teams or events. All of the league packages feature live games except for the NFL. Many, however, have blackouts for games broadcast on your local stations and the postseason. NFL Game Rewind offers full-game replays after they have aired.

What else should I know?

A digital antenna can compensate for local blackouts as well as important games and events. The subscription services are all available via a browser (e.g., on a computer, tablet or smartphone) and also include bonus video and access to stats and live analysis. Many of the packages have tiered plans depending on how much access you want.

What is this?

Most TVs can't be connected to the Internet without additional hardware, such as a Roku, Apple TV, or certain Blu-ray players. Or you can skip the TV entirely and stream programs via a computer, tablet or smartphone.

What is this?

Some of your TVs may already be able to stream Internet content. New Smart TVs come equipped with Internet capability (you may need to connect it with an Ethernet cable or a wireless adapter). Or you may already be connected to a Roku, Apple TV, certain Blu-ray players or a game consoles, such as Xbox 360 and Playstation 3, that are ready to stream.

What else should I know?

These devices may not be able to stream all the channels you want. You can check your device for more information.

What is this?

Apple TV doesn't offer quite as many options as Roku, but for Apple users it has many advantages that make it a better choice. In addition to full access to your iTunes, you can use AirPlay to turn your TV into a second monitor, meaning anything you can watch on your Apple device can also be viewed via your Apple TV.

Which best describes your TV viewing needs?

I want to watch live programming, new shows the day they premiere, and premium channels such as HBO and Showtime.I'd like to watch some live TV, including local sports teams, but it can be limited.I'm willing to part with live TV altogether with a few exceptions for major events and out-of-town sports.

What is this?

Cutting the cord limits access to live TV – though local broadcast stations are available with a digital antenna. There are alternative sports and news networks that can be streamed over the Internet, including 24-hour SkyNews. But most live TV is unavailable, including premium channels offered exclusively through cable providers (HBO, Showtime, etc.).

What else should I know?

Digital antennas can be a great way to get broadcast stations – even in HD. But before you buy one, check which channels are available near you. If you're already set up for cable, you may not even need the antenna. Plug the coaxial cable directly into your TV to see what channels you can watch for free.

What is this?

Tell us how much you pay for cable now. To cut the cord, you’ll still have to pay for Internet, so only include the TV portion of of your bill.

What else should I know?

We may save you money with cable, but you'll probably need to upgrade your Internet depending on how many devices could be streaming at once. Streaming websites recommend 1.5 Megabits per second for standard definition video and 3-5 Mbps for high definition.

What is this?

Search to see if your shows are available on Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime Instant Video. Your search may not return results if the show isn't available on any of the three streaming services or if the spelling doesn't match the actual name of the show. If you find a show that you believe is listed incorrectly or should be included, e-mail cordcutter@marketwatch.com.

What else should I know?

You may want to investigate for yourself to see which seasons are available on each service. The search only checks if at least one episode is available on each service. Hulu typically has recent episodes whereas Netflix and Amazon typically feature past seasons. Also, some shows are available for free on Hulu without a HuluPlus subscription.

What is this?

These were the only apps we could find dedicated to streaming an entire sports league without a cable subscription. Streaming of other sports, both professional and college level, may still be available for certain leagues, teams or events. All of the league packages feature live games except for the NFL. Most, however, have blackouts for games broadcast on your local stations and the postseason. NFL Game Rewind offers full-game replays after they have aired.

What else should I know?

A digital antenna can compensate for local blackouts as well as important games and events. The subscription services are all available via a browser (e.g., on a computer, tablet or smartphone) and also include bonus video and access to stats and live analysis. Many of the packages have tiered plans depending on how much access you want.

What is this?

Most TVs can't be connected to the Internet without additional hardware, such as a Roku, Apple TV, or certain Blu-ray players. Or you can skip the TV entirely and stream programs via a computer, tablet or smartphone.

What is this?

Some of your TVs may already be able to stream Internet content. New Smart TVs come equipped with Internet capability (you may need to connect it with an Ethernet cable or a wireless adapter). Or you may already be connected to a Roku, Apple TV, certain Blu-ray players or a game consoles, such as Xbox 360 and Playstation 3, that are ready to stream.

What else should I know?

These devices may not be able to stream all the channels you want. You can check your device for more information.

What is this?

Apple TV doesn't offer quite as many options as Roku, but for Apple users it has many advantages that make it a better choice. In addition to full access to your iTunes, you can use AirPlay to turn your TV into a second monitor, meaning anything you can watch on your Apple device can also be viewed via your Apple TV.

Don't cut the cord!

Ditching the cable box probably doesn’t make sense for you (yet). Cable and satellite TV still have big advantages over streaming services. To abandon cable, you may have to watch your favorite shows a day after they air.

Digital antennas can make up the difference for broadcast networks, but they may not be sufficient for big sports fans — at least not without paying extra.

Still want to see what you can get by cutting the cord? Change your answer to the first question.

Cutting the cord means replacing the traditional cable box with another means of watching television. The primary advantage cable companies have is the right to distribute channels such as AMC, ESPN and HBO. Cutting the cord can't completely duplicate the programming lineup provided with a cable subscription, but for many the sacrifices are worth the savings.

We chose to include only subscription services rather than a la carte ones like Vudu and iTunes, which require a fee per video. For simplicity, our list of sports subscriptions were limited to services that cover an entire league. There are options we did not include for watching select teams and events.

Our suggested solutions are limited to one of three devices for adding Internet streaming to a TV: Roku 3, Apple TV and Chromecast. These set top boxes were selected based on their popularity, various reviews and price. Other devices dedicated to streaming Internet content to a TV cost more than $100 or received generally poor reviews. Devices that include streaming as a secondary function, such as Smart TVs, Blu-ray players and game consoles, do so at a much higher price. These products may be a better choice for some, but are not cost effective for those of you only interested in cutting the cord.

The calculations for the rankings start by analyzing the TV shows you listed to determine which subscriptions—HuluPlus, Netflix or Amazon Prime—you should purchase. The best solution will include the highest percentage of shows you listed. In a tie, the interactive includes all the tied options ranked by what we view as the best combination. Since more often Hulu includes recent episodes and Netflix and Amazon include past seasons, a combination of Hulu and one of the others is better than any one of them alone. For example, if your show is available on Hulu and Netflix, the interactive recommends you subscribe to both. To account for different preferences, you will usually see at least two combinations including one that only uses one of the three subscriptions.

The tool gives content more weight than devices. After finding a list of acceptable combinations for the subscriptions (all selected sports are included), each of the three devices—Roku, Apple TV and Chromecast—are considered. If a device does not officially support streaming of a channel in a given combination, it is not listed as a possible solution. In the case of a tie, we rank the devices in the following order: Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast. After research all the devices, we think the Roku offers the most content and features. However, for owners of Apple devices, Apple TV is ranked highest because we think it makes up for a less extensive channel list with Airplay and iTunes syncing. Though Chromecast is the cheapest option, it’s ranked lower due to its reliance on another device to act as a remote control and its shorter channel list.

Though many of the subscription services charge annual fees, the interactive calculates them on a monthly basis to make it easier to compare to your current cable bill. Prices are subject to change.

Solutions with a monthly bill greater than one’s current bill are not shown. The number of months until you save calculates how many months of saving it will take to pay for the upfront costs of the devices.

Your cord-cutting options

These are the top plans we recommend based on the information provided. Only plans cheaper than your current monthly cable bill are shown. Read about our methodology.Found your ultimate cord-cutting solution? Share it with your friends and family!Prices as of December 2013. Savings do not include the cost of upgrading to faster Internet. Tax not included.